tonight, abc's jon karl investigates. >> reporter: florida resident robin dekle was behind bars for violating parole on a drug charge, but that's when authorities say she got more than $5,000 in unemployment checks last year. when she got out, florida officials say she blew that taxpayer cash on a trip to orlando and universal studios. and that may be the tip of the iceberg. over the past year, more than 1 out of every $10 the federal government dolled out in unemployment benefits, nearly $17 billion in all, went to people who should not be getting them. some jailbirds. most of them people who kept collecting checks even after they landed a job. it's especially infuriating toto those who play by the rules. >> i know times are hard for everybody, but people who go through the process, i'm -- you're legally trying to do the right thing, it's a hassle enough. to find this kind of stuff out only makes you want to -- >> it's taxpayer money. so, we take it very seriously. as do our state partners. and we are activity and energetically putting plans in place to make sure that we get this number down